Automatic window-closing device.



C. A. MAGAW d: D. MAUVIGAB.

AUTOMATIC WIITDGW CLOSlNG DEVICE'.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, 1908.

Patented Jari 11,1910.

2 SHEETS-BEBE? l.

",l'lfga a r UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

i CHARLES A. MAGA'W AND DANA MAoVICAR, 0F TOPEKA, KANSAS.y

AUTOMATIC WINDOW-CLOSING IDEVICE.V

This invention comprises an attachment adaptedl to be applied towindows, doors and the like, having as its primary objectA the provisionof means for normally holding the window sash or door open, withassociated means for automatically controlling said holding means,whereby the window or door is released and allowed to be closed, thecontrolling means being governed by weather influences.

With the above object in view, the invention includes novel means forreleasing the holding device for the window, which means is set intooperation by action of moisture and will positively release the holdingde- Ylce.

More particularly the invention contemplates the provision of a cord,chain or other iolding device, adapted to be applied to a movable sashor door, the opposite end of the cord 'being adapted to be applied to apoint of support and thereby hold the window or door open, with meansacting under the influence of moisture for positively releasing thecoi'd from support.

The invention also comprises means for delecting the rain or moistureand directing van accumulated mass thereof to a pointV where it will actby direct contact with said holding and releasing means.

With the above and other objects in view, attention is directed to thefollowing description, from which the novel arrangement of parts anddetails of construction of the invention will be clear, and which saiddescription should be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.forming a part hereof, and wherein preferable embodiments of theinvention are disclosed for the pui'- pose of illustration.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a window frame, withits sashes in place, and one of the forms of our attachment appliedthereto, F ig.2 is a side elevation of the same device in positionrelative to the frame and sashes, which latter are o Specification ofLetters Patent.

' Application filed July 22, 1908. Serial No. 444,859.

shown partly in section. 3 is a vertical sectional view of thesupporting member of the holding member with associated parts a pliedthereto. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail klalellied Jan. 11, 1910. f

view of a section of said support, with the releasing plunger and itssupport in operative position. Fig. 5 is a. detail view of a. supportingdiaphravm for the releasing plunger, and Fig. 6 is a sectional view ofa. modified construction.

Like reference characters designate corref sponding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings, in Which- The window frame l is of theordinary construction and the sashes 2 and 2* are shown as slidablymounted in the usual runways, though, as will be obvious, the devices toVbe presently described may, as well, beapplie to a sliding door, oreven a pivoted or swinging window or door.

3 is a relatively rigid tubular supporting member, preferably ofcylindrical metallic construction, and having oliset bracket inembers 4conveniently arranged adjacent its respective ends, whereby the supportmay be attached, as by means of screws 4 to the frame 1. The support isusually applied to the frame at a point without the sash runway andbelow the lower edge of the upper sash. The support 3 has a transverseenlargement 5 intermediate its ends atording a seat. for the receptionof a disk or diaphragm which latter forms a temporary partition in thetubular support.

6 is a rod or plunger, whose greatest diameter is slightly less thanthat of the inner wall of the tubular support 3, whereby it is free toslide longitudinally of said support, the latter having a slottedguideway 7 through which passes a pin i" secured to the plunger 6 andcarrying an annular collar 8 on which is mounted a knob or handle 9"whereby the plunger may be elevated. The

rod 6 is of a length to rest upon the temporary partition when elevated,and to extend below the lower terminal of the tube when lowered.Projecting from the lower end of the. supporting tube is a retainingfinger or lug 10.

11 designates a cord, chain or other holding device adapted to besecured to the movable sash 2 in any desired manner.

In the construction shown, 12 is a strap secured at one end to the sideof the sash 2 as at 12*l and at its opposite end to a weight 13 to whichlatter the cord 11 is secured.

' The opposite end of the cord 11 passes through a suitable guide .ring14 on the frame or sash and has a ring or engaging portion 15 arrangedto engage over the retaining lug whereby the sash is normally held inraised or open position. The ring may be a loop vformed of the cord orchain itself, or other engaging device as is obvious.

l 16 is a disk or partition constructed and l arranged to be inserted inthe seat 5, the disk preferably comprising a rectangular inem- .125 thediaphragm 16a will, under normal conditions, constitute a support or theplunger and retain the latter in elevated osition. Now, should thediaphragm be subjected to 4the action of moisture, the same will give ,Iway thereby allowing the'plunger which is thereof engaging the engagingdevice 15 and forcibly releasing the same from engagement Y' `35 withthe lug or finger 10, whereupon the weight 13 will instantly drop for adistance governed by the length of the strap 1Q, thus causing an initialjar to the sash to overcome any friction, when the sash, acting under 40the influence of said weight, will close. The enlargement of the tube 3will constitute a stop `or abutment to'be engaged by the collar 8 andlimit downward movement of the plunger 6.

l It is very .desirable that the window be closed when the rain starts,and to this end, a suitable deflector or trough 17 is provided, thesaine having an engaging means 18 adapted to detachably engage an eye orthe like 19 on the upper sash 2*, the opposite end of the trough havingan apertured lug 20 adapted to rest in the hollow terminal of thesupporting tube 3. The arrangement is such that the trough will receivethe drippings from the upper sash, and the accumulated water will runalong the trough, which may be inclined, nding` an exit at the aperturedlug 20 and dropping into the tube 3, readily acting upon the diaphragm6o therein.

In the modified construction illustrated in Fig. 6, A is an annular diskor base support adapted to be connected to the sill of the frame 1, andhaving a funnel shaped de- Hector or trough B the enlarged surface b'ber having a recess adapted to be covered by of which will deflect aetiantity of rain and feed it in an accumulat quantity to a relativelysniall area or space a formed by the lower end of the tunnel and basesupport A.

In this form of our invention C is the re 70 taining finger or lug forthe engaging end 15 of the holding device 11. The lug C, in thisinstance, is pivoted intermediate its ends tothe defiector B, throughwhich it passes and tothe opposite end thereof is pivoted a rod orplunger D adapted to eX- tend longitudinally1 of the deiector and havinga disk shaped end D arranged to rest upon a body of moisture reducing orsoluble mass E, which normally holds the rod D in elevated position. Eis a spring arm extending upwardly from the base A, and having at itsupper end an apertured or slotted portion li arranged to engage over thelun C, which latter has a downward 35 projection I? engaging the innersurface of the vspring arm.

In operation, the engaging end of the holding device 11, which as beforedescribed relative to Fig. 1 of the drawings may con- 90 sist of a loopformed of the cord itself or a separate retaining member 15 fits overthe lug C to the outside of the spring arm, and the window will be heldopen. IVhen moisture or rain accumulates on the detlector and is feddownwardly upon the reducible or. soluble substance E, the latter willreducev in size, the we'ig' Et on the sash will exert upward pressure onthe lug C which elevates at one end according to the downward movementpermitted by the plunger D at its opposite end, when the projection F ofthe lug will engage the spring arm E and force the same outwardlythereby positively ejccting the engaging end of the holding device 11from the lug, when the window is allowed to close as herein beforedescribed.

In the claims wherein such terms as wa.- ter reducing or moisturereducing means appear, these terms are intended to include 1 10 such anelement or substance as will, whe subjected to contact with moisture orwaterv be reduced in degree of strength, size or bulk; a satisfactoryillustration of which is shown at 16* Fig. 5 of the drawings, where- 115in is employed a disk, the fibers of which readily disassociate whenthey become wet; also as shown on Fig. 6, this moisture reducing elementmay take the form of any 10o evaporating or reducing substance or gagenerating substance such as etervescent. salt. as E.

What we claimis:

1. An attachment for windows and the like comprising a frame and anupper and 12 lower sash, a member adapted to be attached to the lowersash, a member adapted to be attached to the frame, a releasableconnection between said Vmembers for normally M holding the lower sashopen, means whereby 1* il l, t li s i. i. z

vsaid connection will be automatically released under the influence ofwater, and a water feed secured to the lower edge of the ,upper sash. 2.In combinatiomamovable sash, a rigid fadapted to engage directlywith'said rigid support, and means whereby said engagement will beautomatically released under 10 the inuenceof water, and a water feed.

3. In combination, a pair of movable sashes, a rigid support, a membercarried by one of the sashes and adapted to engage directly with saidrigid support, and means whereby said engagement will be automaticallyreleased under the inuence of water, and a water feed comprising anelongated trough mounted on the other sash.

4. In an attachment for windows and the like, meansfor normally holdingthe window open comprising a member carried by the window, an engagingmember mounted lon a suitable support, the said first men- ;tionedmemberadapted to engage the last mentioned member, and independent means sVincluding a water reducing element governed by the action of moisturefor detaching one of said members from the other.

5. An attachment for window sashes and the like comprising an engagingmember mounted on a suitable support, a holding device adapted to beapplied directly to the window and arranged to vconnect with saidengaging member to hold the window open, and means governed by theaction of moisture for positively removing said holding device from theengaging member.

6. An attachment for window sashes and the like comprising an engaginglug or nger mounted on a suitable support, a holding ring adapted to beapplied to the window and arranged to engage over said lug or finger tohold the window open, independent means adapted to engage said ring topositively eject the same from the lug or finger,

and water releasing holding instrumentalities for said means.

7. A window closing device comprising a member adapted to be secured toa window frame, and a member adapted to be secured to a window, the saidmembers having interlocking connection, an ejector for releasing saidconnection, and a water reducing holding element for the ejector. 8. Awindow closing device comprising a ring adapted to be secured to thewindow, a lug adapted to be secured to the frame and to be engaged bythe ring when the window is open, and means acting under the induence ofweather changes for engaging said ring and releasing the same fromconnection whereby the window is allowed to close. 9. A window closingdevice comprising a support adapted to be secured to a window support, amember securedto the. sash and.

' being adapted to r `frame, a plunger slidably mounted on the ,65'i

support, a holdinfr member adapted to be secured to the win ow andengage said support to hold the window' open, means for normally holdingthe plunger inactive including a disk constituting a rest for the 'iplunger, said means being controlled by the action of moisture torelease the plunger and allow the same to move and disengage the holdinmember from the support. Y f.

10. window closing device comprising a support adapted to be secured toa window frame, a holdmg member adapted to be secured to the window andengage said support to hold the window open, and releasing means for theholding member governed by the action of moisture, including a rodslidably mounted on said support.

11. A window closing device comprising a support adapted to be securedto a window frame, a holding member adapted to be 'se- 85 cured to thewindow and engage such support to hold the window open, and releasingmeans for the holding member including a rod slidably mounted on thesupport, and a.

moisture releasable holding means for the l rod.

12. A window closing device comprising a support adapted to be securedto a window frame, a holding member adapted to be se-v cured to thewindow and engage such support to hold the window open, and releasingmeans for the holding member including a rod slidably mounted on thesupport, a mois` ture rcleasable holding means for the rod, and meansfor feeding-.water to said last. 1'00 mentioned means.

13. A window closing device comprising a tubular support, holding meansfor :he window engaging said support a plunger slidably mounted in thetube, a disk in the tube Y.

for holding the plunger elevated. said disk being adapted upon theaction of moisture 3*/ to release the plunger, which latter will releasethe holding means.

14. A window closing device comprising a tubular support, holding meansfor the window engaging said support a plunger.r slidably mounted in thetube, a disk in the tube for holding the plunger elevated. said diskbeing adapted upon the action of moisture to release the lunger and theplunger ellease the holding means,

and a feed for the water having an outlet into said tube.

15. A window closing device comprising a tubular support, holding meansfor the window engaging said support, a plunger slidably mounted in thetube, a disk in the tube for holding the plunger elevated, said diskbeing adapted upon the action of moisture to release the plunger and theplunger being adapted to release the holding means, and a feed for thewater comprising an elnugated trough adapted tobe secured to the loweredge of the upper window sash and having an outlet into said tube.

16. A window closingY device comprising means for closing the window,means for controlling said device, the said means being constructed andarranged to hold the closing device inactive and being sensible to theaction of water for releasing the closing device, means for eedingwaterto said first mentioned mcanscomprising an elongated trough adapted tobe secured to a. suitable support, and having an outlet at one endadjacent the saidfirst mentioned means.

17. A. window closing device comprising a member adapted to be securedto a vwindow frame, and a member adapted to be secured to a windowthesaid members having a detachable connection, independent means overnedby hygroscopic changes for releasing said connection, and means forimparting a jar to the Window when released.

18. A, window closing device comprising a member adapted to be securedto a window frame and a member adapted to be secured to a window, thesaid members having an interlocking connection one with the other andautomatic means for releasing said connection, and a water reducibleholding element for said means.

19. Af window closing device comprising a member adapted to be Securedto a window frame and a member adapted to be secured `to a window,thesaid members having an interlocking connection one with the other andautomatic means for releasing said connection comprising a slidablemember arranged to engage one of said members, and a water reducingelement for normally holding said means inactive.

20. An attachment of the character described adapted to be applied to amovable sash or the like, a weight, a strap secured to the weight andadapted to be applied at its opposite end to the sash, a cord secured tothe weight, a suitably supported guide for the cord, and a holdingdevice for the opposite end of the cord arranged to hold the sash openand said weight elevated, said holding device comprising a retainingmember and independent means for positively moving saidcord fromengagement with the retaining member.

'21. In an attachment for windows, means for normally holding the windowopen comprising two members adapted to be connected respectively to thewindow and frame means for connecting the members together, andautomatically operable independent means for engaging said lastmentioned means to release the connection, including a water reducingelement.

22. In an attachment for windows, means for normally holding the windowopen comprising a member adapted to be secured to a frame, a member ada.ted to be secured to a window, a connection etween said memberscomprising a lug carried by one and a ring carried by the other, meansfor ejecting the ring from the"lug, and means for rendering the lastmentioned means normally inactive including a moisture reducing element.

23. In combination with a frameand a sliding sash, a part connected toand carried b v the sash, a rigid support on the frame, a directconnection between said part and support, and water releasing means forsaid connection.

24. In combination with a movable sash, a flexible member secured to andcarried by the sash, a retaining lug mounted on a suitable support,means for connecting the inember to the lug, means for moving theflexible member from engagement with the lug, and a moisture governedrelease for said means.

25. An attachment of the character described comprising a frame, amovable sash, a member carried by and secured to the sash, a retainingmember secured to the frame and engaged directly by said first mentionedmember to hold the sash open, a movable dcvice for moving one of saidmembers relative to the other to release the same from engagement, andmoisture reducing means for holding said device in one of its adjustedpositions.

26. An attachment for window saslies comprising a member adapted to beapplied to a sash, a support to which said member is secured t0 hold thesame open, and a member mounted on and movable relative to said supportfor releasing the member therefrom,

and means governed by the action of moisture whereby the last mentionedmeans is rendered operative.

2T. In an apparatus of the character stated the combination of a movablesash, a

frame therefor, a member adapted to be applied to the sash, a support onthe frame to which said member is secured to bold the sash open and amember mounted on and slidably connected to said support for releasingtbe member therefrom, and means governed by the action of moisturewhereby the last mentioned means is rendered operative.

QS. .Xn apparatus of the character described. comprising a sliding sash,a suitably mounted retaining lug, a member adapted to be connected toand carried by the sash, said member having an engaging part to connectwith said retaining lug to hold the sash open, and an ejecting meansmovable over the lug and engaging directly said engaging part, saidejecting means being controlled by moisture.

29. .ln apparatus of the character described adapted to be applied to amovable i l. i

In testimony whereof we am our signatures in presenceor` Witnesses.

CHARLES A. MAGAW. DANA MACVICAR. lVitnesses: Oris E. HUNGATE, ETHELMGFARLAND, GALEN NICHOLS.

